Chile eyeing next telecoms infrastructure projects
Chile's telecoms regulator Subtelis considering multiple public-private partnership models to finance telecoms infrastructure investment over the next five years. For starters, it will roll out a US$10mn tender to deploy fiber in the city of Iquique in northernmost Tarapacá region (I).
The tender will be awarded before the current administration of President Michelle Bachelet ends in March, Subtel head Rodrigo Ramírez (pictured) told BNamericas.
The project will be financed by the telecoms infrastructure fund and follow a similar format to the US$100mn Fibra Austral submarine and terrestrial cable project connecting the deep south, most of which was awarded to Chilean telco CTR and Huawei Marine in October.
Telecoms operators association Atelmo has estimated that Chile needs public and private investment in telecoms infrastructure of US$26bn by 2025 to keep pace with growth in the digital economy. Based on that forecast, authorities have been putting together a national telecoms infrastructure development plan due to be finalized before the end of the Bachelet term.
The state will act as the instigator in each of the projects but the actual investment model may vary depending on each project.
"We have to stimulate investment through all the mechanisms possible, through public-private concessions models of different types," Ramírez said.
"Over the next five years we have to bring about 10 strategic infrastructure projects. We have six possible financing models coupled with legal and governance norms to develop them.
"In one case, it may make sense for only private investment, in another public. As an industry we need to agree on which projects are priority and what concessions model best suits them."
Chile's internet penetration stood at 97.5% in September, out of which 82% was mobile.
The country has 98% geographical internet coverage with 24,000km of fiber and average speeds of 9.3Mbps.
As part of its 2020-25 digital agenda, Chile aims to have 80% of homes connected to high-speed internet compared to 60% today.
MINIMUM SPEEDS
It's not just about quantity but also quality.
In October, Chile's government approved a law that seeks to guarantee minimum internet access speeds for consumers.
The law calls for measurement mechanisms for the telco, the consumer and an independent third party to verify speeds. Based on these measurements, consumers could potentially file a complaint about quality of service and request a refund.
Subtel is still drawing up the regulation for the bill and has not decided on the actual minimum speed yet. Ramírez said that it would be in line with the average for OECD countries.
In 2014 the median speed for the OECD was 30Mbps and the average was 77.42Mbps.
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